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Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

"Parsix GNU/Linux 4.0 (code name 'Gloria') brings tons of updated packages, faster live boot, improved installer system and quality new features. This version has been synchronized with Debian testing repositories as of November 7, 2012 and brings lot of updated packages compared to Parsix 3.7. Parsix Gloria is the project's first release with the GNOME 3 series and it ships with LibreOffice productivity suit by default. Gloria has a brand-new software manager package. Highlights: GNOME 3.4.2, X.Org 7.7, GRUB 2, GNU Iceweasel 16.0.2, GParted 0.12.1, Empathy 3.4.2.3, LibreOffice 3.5.4, VirtualBox 4.1.18 and a brand-new kernel based on Linux 3.2.28 with TuxOnIce, BFS and other extra patches. The live DVD has been compressed using Squashfs and xz."

Parsix is based on Debian Testing, with its own repository and using the Gnome 3 desktop. The disk offers the choices of checking the media or running a live session, and the language and keyboard are selected at this stage. The installer doesn’t do disk partitioning, but Gparted is provided. Unfortunately the installer doesn’t do encryption either, or even allow you to set a bootloader password. Nor does it set language, keyboard, or time zone: this has to be done after installation.

Software includes Iceweasel, Empathy, Evolution, Gwibber, Liferea, Xchat, LibreOffice, Grisbi accounts, Gimp, Inkscape, VLC, and Virtual Box. Everything worked, with a few minor warnings for Empathy and Gwibber when run from the CLI. Codecs and the flash plugin are installed and everything played, even my ‘mp4 from hell’. Help files were missing for Empathy, Grisbi, and Inkscape. This leaves you needing on-line documentation, and Grisbi doesn’t have any! Evolution was not listed in the menu. I needed to download an English dictionary and found that Synaptic has been replaced by PackageKit, which is even slower than in Fedora: stick to apt-get. Unlike many Debian derivatives, it had the ability to select USB speakers.

The lack of easy encryption is bad: I wouldn’t want to put this on a laptop with personal data on it. Also, I don’t find this version as good as the previous one. As a Debian or Ubuntu derivative with Gnome, it’s comparable with Arios, Pinguy, and Solus, but not as nice as Mint.